Practical Info
Travel info
Petnica Science Center (PSC) is located in western Serbia, 7 km from Valjevo (around 90 km southwest of Belgrade) [Address: Manastirska 49, 14104 Valjevo]. If you land in Belgrade, the fastest way to get to Petnica is to take a bus or train to Valjevo. Here we give some more details. If you ever have any doubts or questions, feel free to contact the organizers.
By plane: The closest airport is Nikola Tesla Airport in Belgrade. If you land there, you can take bus number 600 or the A1 minibus that pass in the vicinity of the train and bus stations and the city center.
By car: If you are coming by car from Belgrade, the fastest way is to follow the road E-763 (Miloš the Great Motorway) in the direction of Lajkovac (around 60 km southwest from Belgrade) and then continue towards Valjevo. Once you are there, you can ask for PSC or just follow the signs. If you are entering Serbia by car from the west, it is faster to go straight to Valjevo. In that case, please check the maps before the trip to find the easiest option.
By bus or train: You can easily reach Valjevo from the central bus station in Belgrade. The buses typically run every two hours during the day. The tickets are around 9 EUR (one way), and it takes a bit less than 2 hours to reach Valjevo. The other option is to take a train from the Belgrade Centre Railway Station ("Prokop"). The ticket is around 5 EUR and the travel takes 1h30min.
From Valjevo to Petnica: A bus will be organized on the arrival and departure day from the Valjevo bus/train station to PSC. If you can't make it for the bus, the best option is to take a taxi (e.g. Gradski taxi Valjevo and Pink Taxi Valjevo also have mobile phone apps). The trip will cost around 5 EUR.
Currency exchange
The Serbian currency is the Dinar (RSD). The typical exchange rate is 1 Euro = 117 RSD. You can exchange most foreign currencies in many exchange offices that are easy to find. Almost all of them offer very good rates, typically better than what you get in banks.
Traveling in Serbia
Western Serbia is quite nice and has several places worth visiting. To find more information, please visit the website of the National Tourism Organisation of Serbia.
Food/accommodation
Meals and accommodation are provided at the PSC canteen/dormitory. You will stay in shared rooms with a toilet and shower.
Most of the area is covered by Wi-Fi (inside and outside). There are also network plugs in most of the rooms.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served at 09:00–09:30, 14:00–14:30 and 20:00–20:30, respectively.
People with specific dietary requirements should contact us no later than a week before the beginning of the school.
In a cafe-bar close to the restaurant, you can buy coffee, drinks or small snacks. The bar is open from 09:00 to 22:30. The cafe-bar also provides basic hygiene products, although it is recommended that participants obtain these products in Valjevo or Belgrade before the school, as the options are limited and can vary.
The closest supermarket to PSC is a 25-minute walk away.
Lectures and other activities
Lecturers will give detailed, in-depth lectures, mostly using the whiteboard. Make sure to bring plenty of paper or notebooks, as they are not available at the cafe-bar.
Each evening will be reserved for a joint discussion or for an activity you can arrange with lecturers during the day.
You will have some organized free time in Valjevo and at the nearby swimming pool. One day is reserved for a hiking trip, most probably along the Gradac river. Make sure to bring appropriate sandals, sneakers, or running shoes that can dry easily. The walk will partially go through the river, and you will most certainly get wet.